{"id":1122,"date":"2014-01-01T16:35:35","date_gmt":"2014-01-01T16:35:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/phosdev.com\/todaysveterinarypractice\/?p=1122"},"modified":"2024-03-14T14:32:50","modified_gmt":"2024-03-14T14:32:50","slug":"consider-this-case-alopecia-easily-epilated-hair-inappetence-in-a-cat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarypractice.com\/dermatology\/consider-this-case-alopecia-easily-epilated-hair-inappetence-in-a-cat\/","title":{"rendered":"Alopecia, Easily Epilated Hair, & Inappetence In A Cat"},"content":{"rendered":"

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J<\/span><\/em>ennifer C. Olson, DVM; Gary D. Norsworthy, DVM, Diplomate ABVP (Feline); & J. Scot Estep, DVM, Diplomate ACVP<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

This article describes clinical signs, laboratory diagnostics, imaging, and cytologic analysis for a cat with progressive nonpruritic dermatologic changes, inappetence, decreased water consumption, and recent anorexia. Can you determine the diagnosis?<\/span><\/p>\n

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A 14-year-old spayed female domestic medium-hair cat was referred for evaluation of progressive nonpruritic dermatologic changes, inappetence, and decreased water consumption over 4 weeks; anorexia had developed in the past week.<\/span><\/p>\n

PHYSICAL EXAMINATION<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

Upon presentation the cat had a body condition score of 4\/9 and weighed 3.82 kilograms. The cat was euhydrated and, based on records from the referring veterinarian, had lost 1.32 kg during the past 12 months. No signs of excessive grooming were reported by the owner.<\/span><\/p>\n

Clinical examination findings included shiny, symmetrical alopecia on the ventral abdomen and chin, periocular alopecia and inflammation, perionychitis, and easily epilated hair (Figures 1\u20133<\/b>).<\/span><\/p>\n

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Figure 1. Shiny symmetrical alopecia on the ventral abdomen, with easily epilated surrounding hair.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Figure 2. Perionychitis<\/p><\/div>\n

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Figure 3. Shiny alopecia on the chin, with easily epilated surrounding hair.<\/p><\/div>\n

DIAGNOSTICS<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

Laboratory Analysis<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

Diagnostics performed the day prior to referral revealed elevated BUN, normal creatinine, mild eosinophilia, and mild hyperglycemia (Table 1<\/b>). These biochemical and hematologic abnormalities were nonspecific and clinically insignificant.<\/span><\/p>\n


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Imaging<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

Abdominal ultrasound identified multiple hypoechoic masses in the liver (Figure 4<\/b>). The pancreas could not be identified due to gas acoustic impedance. The remainder of the ultrasound study was unremarkable. Thoracic radiographs were normal.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Figure 4. Ultrasound image showing heterogeneous hypoechoic mass.<\/p><\/div>\n

Cytopathology<\/b><\/h3>\n

Under sedation, fine-needle aspiration biopsy samples were collected from a hepatic mass using ultrasound guidance. The findings are listed in Table 2<\/b>.<\/p>\n

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PRESUMPTIVE DIAGNOSIS<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n

The vague acini led the pathologist to suspect biliary or pancreatic origin, but there were not enough<\/span><\/span>features for definitive diagnosis. However, this information, in context of the clinical picture, led to a presumptive diagnosis of hepatobiliary adenocarcinoma<\/strong> and feline paraneoplastic alopecia<\/strong>. Based on the presumptive diagnosis and prognosis, the owners elected euthanasia.<\/span><\/p>\n

POSTMORTEM DIAGNOSTICS<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

Gross Pathology<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

Significant gross pathologic findings at necropsy included numerous multifocal soft pale hepatic nodules (Figures 5 to<\/strong> <\/span>7) while the lung, pancreas, and intra-abdominal lymph nodes appeared grossly normal.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Figure 5. Appearance of liver when opening the abdomen during necropsy.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Figure 6. Hepatic nodules in section.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Figure 7. Necropsy image of the pancreas with no gross pathology.<\/p><\/div>\n

Histology<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n